Food product manufactured from sweet potatoes or yams and the process for producing same.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I JOSHUA HUDSON WILLIAMS, OF GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO WIL- LIAMS COMPANY, OF GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

FOR PRODUCING SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent, Patented Afig, 28, 191"}.

No Drawing. Original application filed September 28, 1916, Serial No. 122,633. Divided and this application filed November 17, 1916, Serial No. 131,953. Renewed July 26, 1917. Serial No. 183,023.

122,633, filed by me on September 28, 1916.

The object of my invention is to provide I an improved flour for use in making custards, pies, puddings, and the like, and an improved process of manufacturing 1t from In carrying out my process I place a suitable quantity of yams or sweet potatoes in a suitable container having a suitable perforated steel or wire shelf spaced from the bottom. This container is preferably a wooden or steel cylinder and the shelfis p0- sitioned about six inches from the bottom. A cover is fastened tightly over the top of the container. The first step of my process is to apply a limited jet of steam to the yams or sweet potatoes, causing a gentle sweat to take place. A part of the water contained in the yams or sweet potatoes is evaporated through the skin in consequence. Nothing of food value is lost. But care must be taken not to apply too much steam at this stage of theprocess, as it would cause the yams or sweet potatoes to heattoo quickly, thus opening the pores of the potatoes and allowing valuable food elements to escape with the water. After a suiiicient amount of water has been evaporated a full jet of steam is turned into the container which quickly cooks the sweet potatoes or yams thoroughly, converting the starch elements into a-sugary substance known as dextrin, which is very desirable. The mass is then allowed to cool and the yams are then peeled. The mass is then placed in a mechanical mixer and mixed thoroughly. I

then add an amount of flour sufficient tomake a good dough, also salt and flavor, if flavoring is desired. The amount of .flour depends upon the fiber contained in the yams and also upon the moisturethey contain, which varies at different seasons of the year.. To this thoroughly mixed mass I then add yeast and allow the dough to ferment for a considerable period. During this time it is knocked down several times,

FOOD PRODUCT MANUFACTURED FROM SWEET POTATOES OR YAMS AND THE PROCESS the object being for the yeast to break up a large part of the gluten cells contained in the mass. When the mass is fermentedv to the rightstage this sponge or dough will be in a fallen, broken down condition, flabby and slightly sour; in other words, a worked sponge. The process followed in the above described step is similar.-. to the sponge method of making bread. To this spongeis then added a large amount of yams or potatoes which have been thoroughly cooked in the manner described above. The whole amount is remixed thoroughly and put in troughs to rise. There is'enough life left in the yeast to bring the complete mass to a full rise. The mass is then made into loaves and baked for several hours. loaves are taken from the oven and allowed to cool for a considerable period. They are then sliced and the slices are run through a pug mill, which gently pugs the pores of the sliced loaves together. The resultant pugged mass is then dried thoroughly, run through a suitable mill and crushed into flour which is suitable for making into puddings, custards, pies, and the like.

What I claim is:

1. The process of manufacturing afood from sweet potatoes consisting in steaming the potatoes in a container to evaporate a part of the water in the potatoes, subseadding yeast and allowing .the dough to ferment for a considerable period, working The" over the dough, adding more steamed pot toes, remixing, allowing the mass to I'i baking for a considerable period, cooling, slicing the loaves, running the slices through 5 a pug mill, thoroughly drying the pugged mass, milling and crushing'into a flour to be used in making pies, custards, puddings, etc.

2. A food product consisting of a flour to be used in making pies, custards, puddings, and the like, produced from adried pugged 10 mass composed of steamed and baked sweet potatoes, flour, salt and flavor as required,

, substantially as described.

JOSHUA HUDSON WILLIAMS. 

